About my drill sergeants- Sergeants Westbrook and Ruiz. These two are the primary sergeants for 3rd platoon, though they are not the only two we have contact with. Sergeant Ruiz and Westbrook represent the typical around here- nice people essentially doing their jobs of being ruthlessly mean to the privates. It's a job- there have been times when each sergeant has revealed their human sides, but these are definitely an exception rather than a rule.
Respect and order occupy hallowed positions around here.

We went to the CS (Carbon sulfide) gas chamber on Wednesday- we used our gasmasks, but were forced to inhale the gas anyhow, a sadistic pleasure. Sgt. Jackson, an older, hardcore drill sergeant, reportedly spent the last three group-rotations through the CS chamber with his mask off- he was in charge of cackling and fanning the CS gas toward us inside the chamber. He says he is insane- and he's right.

I find difficulty relating the happenings here, though I am willing. I believe it relates to the utter contrast of life here on the "inside" to normal life. This is definitely a sobering, humbling experience. Army Basic Training teaches one to appreciate the extravagent freedom of life in the United States. To appreciate, and then to defend.

There is laughing here, and funny happenings. There are also exciting happenings which may seem ridiculous to one on the outside. The exciting happenings include catching a snatch of a popular song from the radio of a passing car. Catching a glimpse of a new TV commercial before the "Military Ethics" video is inserted into the VCR. Seeing a newspaper through a vending machine window while marching by the PX. The highlights of each day include chow, chow, chow, shower, and bed.

I will only be here for 47 1/2 more days, or so PVT. Milliron tells me. Everyone in my room- everyone in the platoon and company, in fact- are counting down. Most of the restlessness is due to a feeling we are missing out on the former rights we enjoyed as civilians. Once we graduate, however, I imagine we will look upon this experience with fondness. There is a certain adventure to it all, a healthy "hooah!" which we all know, somehow, will improve us as people, as citizens, as soldiers.

There is much more to tell, but my mind is numbed- I cannot find the literary flair I once possessed. I take confidence in the probability this is temporary, a byproduct of this extraordinary change I've undergone.

Please write when you get a chance, whoever gets a chance. I'd love to hear from home.

Dan